A New Novel, Part 309 Kiss Me, I Want You to Kiss Me

9 August 2011, A New Novel, Part 309 Kiss Me, I Want You to Kiss Me 
For those who haven’t been following this blog, let me introduce it a little. I am currently blogging my 21st novel that has the working title Daemon. The novel is about Aksinya, a sorceress, who, to save her family from the Bolsheviks, called and contracted the demon, Asmodeus. Her family was murdered anyway, and she fled with the demon from Russia to Austria.

Dobrushin and Aksinya married--this is part of the plan Dobrushin believes will rid Aksinya of the demon.  For better or worse, they are bound together in this.  We are not sure of the outcome.  They have come to the room Dobrushin took in the hotel near the center of Wien... 

Dobrushin pointed to the door on the left in the room, “There is the bath.  It has a toilet.”

Aksinya nodded.

At the last, Dobrushin took an open container of incense and placed it before the fireplace.  He lit it with the taper then fished in his vest pocket for Aksinya’s surety.  He glanced at her and then placed the necklace and locket on the smoking incense.  Aksinya could already smell the gentle bite of frankincense.  Dobrushin returned to the door.  He returned the taper to its holder.

Dobrushin took her hand and blushed, “I’m sorry.  I forgot to get you any nightclothes.”

Aksinya trembled, “I won’t need any.”  She raised her face to his, “Kiss me.  I want you to kiss me.”

Dobrushin took her in his arms and put his lips on hers.  Aksinya threw her arms around his neck, “I don’t understand what this kind of love is, but I want to know it with you tonight.”  She pressed her lips to his and wouldn’t stop kissing him.

Finally Dobrushin finally disentangled her arms from his neck.  His face was red, “Come, my love, we need to ask God to show us mercy and keep us in safety.”

Aksinya’s breath released in gentle pants.  She nodded.

They knelt at the side of the bed, he took her hand, and Dobrushin prayed, “We praise you God of our fathers.  We praise your name forever and ever.  Let the heavens and all your creation praise you forever.  You made Adam and also Eve his wife, who was to be his partner and support; and those two were the parents of all human beings.  This was your word: ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; let us provide a partner suited to him.’  So now I take this my beloved to wife, not out of lust but in true marriage.  Grant that she and I may find mercy and grow old together.  Amen.”

“Amen,” Aksinya replied, “Do you love me?”

“I love you.  I married you.”

“Help me take off my clothes.”

Aksinya stood before him expectantly.  Dobrushin took off his coat and unbuttoned his shirt.  Aksinya reached up and fumbled with his buttons.  She smiled, “I’m not very good with buttons.”  She undid one after the other.  A golden cross lay against his chest.  It depended from a necklace.

Dobrushin pulled her to him and kissed her again.

Dobrushin gets out the details that are very important to a woman first--perhaps he was coached by Ekaterina.  Then he prepares the protection against the demon.  Do you remember, in Tobit, Tobias burned the part of the fish in the incense?  Now, Dobrushin burns Aksinya's surety in the incense.  I use some advanced writing techniques to bring in all your senses. 

Once the incense is burning, they take the next step--they are going to bed.  Do you sense the usually well prepared and mature Dobrushin's nervousness and inexperience.  He forgot nightclothes.  Aksinya doesn't care--she may be inexperienced, but she understands what is supposed to go on (or at least she imagines she knows).  She demands to be kissed.  That's when I get to make a statement through her about love.  This is one of the major sibthemes.

Dobrushin is getting worked up too.  Aksinya is just too cute.  She is filled with desire.  He knows what must be done, however, do you remember the scene in the restaurant?  They must complete each step like in the book of Tobit.  The next step is the prayer from Tobit.  If you will note, this prayer is whole in the Orthodox marriage ceremony.  It is a simple prayer.  The prayer, like the Book of Tobit is a turning point in Hebrew thought about the nature of God.  The God of Tobit listens to the cries of his people and answers their prayer.  If you look closely in the Old Testament, the prayers are almost always generic and not directed.  There are a few examples that are, but most are not.  In the Apocrypha, we see prayers to God that are direct and answered directly.  These are very much like the prayers we find in the New Testament.

Aksinya's question to Dobrushin: “Do you love me?”  Then with his answer, she wants to get down to business.  Do you remember that Aksinya seldom took off her own clothing or dressed herself.  She asks for help for more than reasons of sensuality.  Dobrushin doesn't care.  Aksinya begins to help him unbutton his shirt.  Do you remember, she has problems with buttons?  With these writing techniques, I want to build the tension and the excitement but for another reason--you will see why tomorrow.

A New Novel, Part 308 This is My Wife

8 August 2011, A New Novel, Part 308 This is My Wife

For those who haven’t been following this blog, let me introduce it a little. I am currently blogging my 21st novel that has the working title Daemon. The novel is about Aksinya, a sorceress, who, to save her family from the Bolsheviks, called and contracted the demon, Asmodeus. Her family was murdered anyway, and she fled with the demon from Russia to Austria.

Dobrushin and Aksinya married--this is part of the plan Dobrushin believes will rid Aksinya of the demon.  For better or worse, they are bound together in this.  We are not sure of the outcome.  The beginning of every scene and chapter is first scene and chapter setting... 

      Aksinya and Dobrushin rode in the carriage to a hotel near the center of Wien.  It was almost midnight, and she couldn’t read the name.  Aksinya trembled with chill and anticipation.  Within the carriage, she sat close to Dobrushin.  The warmth of his body came to her through her new coat and her woolen dress.  They didn’t speak the entire time.  When they arrived, Dobrushin let her down from the carriage and gave her his arm.  He didn’t have to, Aksinya took it automatically.  She held him tightly as if she never wanted to let him go.

They entered the hotel, and he spoke to her, “Princess, I have arranged a room here.”

The lobby was dark with only a single gas lamp over the reception desk.  From what Aksinya could see, the hotel was a fine but not luxurious place.  Is smelled a little of age and was a bit stuffy, but that description could fit most buildings in Wien.  The sleepy desk clerk sat up straighter.  Dobrushin came to the desk and asked for his key.  He introduced Aksinya, “This is my wife.”

Aksinya gave a broad smile.  The word, wife, from Dobrushin’s lips were very pleasant to her.  She held his arm more tightly. 

Dobrushin led her to the left and up the stairs.  Half the gas lamps had been extinguished and the rest were turned low.  In spite of that, the hall seemed bright since the light wooden walls reflected the lamps’ gentle glow.  Dobrushin stopped before an inner door and unlocked it.  The gas lamp directly inside the door had been lit, but it was adjusted to its lowest setting.  They entered the room, and Dobrushin turned it up bright.  He closed the door behind them.  He gently disengaged Aksinya’s arm from his and removed her coat.  He hung it on the hook by the door.  Then he removed his overcoat and hung it beside hers.  With the taper left in the gas lamp fixture for that purpose, he crossed the room and lit the other two gas lamps.  Aksinya stood before the door unsure what to do.  She glanced around the room.  It wasn’t large.  It had a coal fireplace at one side that was lit with a meager fire.  Extra coal sat in a scuttle at the left side.  The ash pot and implements were on the other side of the opening.  Before the fireplace were two chairs and a low tea table.  Beyond them, a wide window sat in the far wall.  Below the window was a wooden table and four chairs.  At the left was a bed and a desk.  The other two gas lamps were on that wall.  Fine oriental rugs covered the area of the fireplace, the table, and beside the bed and the desk.

I very quickly paint the scene for you with the carriage ride.  It is late and dark and I use an advanced technique by letting you know that she can't read the name.  That means the sign isn't lighted, that it is dark, and indicates it's likely a quiet and congenial hotel.  Aksinya trembles--she's cold and she is anticipating--what else could this girl anticipate on her honeymoon.  We know Aksinya and her desires well.  I build this tension with the description in the carriage.  We note that Dobrushin is a little tense--they don't speak.

When they arrive, Dobrushin is a gentleman and Aksinya is still clingy.  She desires him--she is finally free to have someone.  Dobrushin's words are almost unnecessary, but he speaks them.  I give you a description through Aksinya's eyes.  The clerk likely doesn't care if Dobrushin is bringing in his wife or a prostitute, but Dobrushin is nervous and inexperienced enough to say it.  That is a pleasure to Aksinya.

I show you some history with the details on the lamps.  This is the way it was done at the time.  The chambermaid for the room would light the door lamp and leave a taper.  I show you the process of lighting the lamps and this gives me the opportunity to have Aksinya look at the room.  The details of the room are important.  We shall see more tomorrow.